Title: A Wrinkle of Time
Age Level: 5th and above
Teacher Background Information:
Children at this age range are very interested in scince fiction and space. Everyday, no matter how old your students are, you should read out loud to them. Read this story to them and when finished complete this two day unit. These are some fun activites that relate to the story very well and will capture the attention of your students.
This book is about three children who travel through space using a method called wrinkling. They are trying to save their father from "The Black Thing" and hope to return home safely. More explanation of the book can be found in each one of the activites expalned below. I hope you enjoy this two day unit, the possibilites are endless.
I. Major Concept: To construct a two day unit over the book, "A Wrinkle of Time" written by Madeleine L'Engle.
II. Objectives:
Language Arts:
1. The students will produce a skit that demonstrates their supernatural power and adventure in front of a video tape.
2. The students will create a three paragraph story describing their version of "tessering" including the following: one advantage, one disadvantage, one sensation the person will feel, one danger that may occur, and an explanation on whether or not this is something that is in the future of mankind.
Science:
1. The students will compose a poster with at least three examples of one, two, and three dimensional pictures taken out of various magazines.
2. The students will participate in a group science experiment dealing with gravity that will demonstrate positive cooperation skills.
Math:
1. The students will complete a math planet worksheet with various math equations with at least a grade of 80%.
2. The students will complete a story problem worksheet with at least a grade of 80%.
Social Studies:
1. The students will state one gossiping factor that was in the book and write about how experience relates to them.
2. The students will compile a space museum after researching materials in the library and complete a self evaluation worksheet when project is complete.
Art:
1. The students will illustrate their special power and state one change to it due to age, situation, or environment on a piece of poster board.
2. The students will illustrate how they would fight "The Black Thing" using any media that they wish.
III. List of materials:
-video tape and recorder -construction paper
-magazines, catalogs -poster board
-markers, crayons -planet/story problem worksheet
-heavy book -five foot cord
IV. List of References:
For the Teacher:
1. A Wrinkle of Time by Madeleine L'Engle
For the student:
2. Library
V. Content Related Words:
-tesseract -tessering
-wrinkling -dimension
-volume -area
-gravity -space travel
VI. Projects and Activities for Students:
Language Arts:
Day 1: Protector of the Universe: Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which are central characters who are never fully explained by the author. They are composed to supernatural beings, to witches, and to guardian angels. It is up to the reader to define them. So old that they're ageless, and known throughout the universe, they are indeed powerful. The three are on a mission to help Mr. Murry. Pretend that you have supernatural powers for helping those less fortunate. Define one of your assignments and describe your adventures. Portray this by a skit that will be tape recorded.
Day 2: The Tesseract, The Only Way to Travel: The tesseract/tessering is a form of space travel in the story. Mr. and Mrs. Murry experimented with it. Whatit, Who, and Which used is a lot. Related to the fifth dimension, it incorporates size, volume, time, and something much more. Travel through space is impossible unless you go the long way around until tessering was invented. Another name for tessering is wrinkling.
Science fiction movies have versions of tessering, such as beaming someone up in Star Trek. Make up a form of tessering and be sure to include advantages, disadvantages, sensations, and dangers. Have them also state whether it is something in the future of mankind.
Science:
Day 1: First, Second. and Third Dimension: To understand tessering, it is necessary to grasp the three dimension forming art and visual awareness. The first has no area, second has area, and third has volume. Illustrate examples of each to the students. Have students cut examples out of magazines and paste on a poster board. You could also get into volume and area and do more activities with these two.
Day 2; Gravity's Grip: The earth has gravity and it is what astronauts must break through before getting to space. Have students do the following experiment to illustrate gravity.
1. Open a heavy book and place it in the middle of a five foot black cord, face down.
2. Tie a knot in the cord at the book's spine.
3. Take one end of the cord in each hand at least 1 1/2 feet away from the book and pull. Try to put the book in a perfectly horizontal position.
You will find out that it can't be done because gravity's grip on the book won't allow it. Explain that the only way to fight gravity is sped. Discuss with students how tessering would be easier. Have them write a reaction in their scientific journals.
Math:
Day 1: Math Whiz: Meg is a math whiz. Show your math expertise by filling in math equations on planets. Select whatever you may be covering in math and write up equations that you can have them complete.
Day 2: Space Ace: Select whatever you may be covering in math and write story problems that relate to the characters in the book. Have the students complete them.
Social Studies:
Day 1: Heard on the Grapevine: The Murry family lived in a small town. Anything that happened was everyone's news. The post mistress told the townspeople about Mrs. Murry's unanswered letters from her missing husband. Discuss how gossiping can affect people and how family and friends can help the situation. As students to think of other examples in the book here people were gossiping about them and write about it may relate to them or someone that they may know.
Day 2: Space Museum: Assign students into groups and have them research famous space personalities. With their findings, have students display posters, tapes, models, and other media in the museum. Have each group share with each other.
Art:
Day 1: Take a Closer Look: Whatsit, Who, and Which teach three children to go beyond their limited visual perceptions of reality. They enlighten the youngsters to the notion that things may not be how they appear. Show your students a picture of the famous candlestick/faces picture. Ask them to write down what they see in the picture then find out how many of them seen the candlestick and how many saw the two faces. Once again stress that things may not always be what they seem. Have them illustrate their appearance and give themselves a "special" power of their choice. Have them indicate changes due to age, situation, or environment.
Day 2: The Black Thing: Traveling through the universe, the children tessered through The Black Thing and it's powers of darkness. There have been many famous people that have fought against the powers of darkness. Some include: Jesus, da Vinci, Michelangelo etc... Have the children illustrate their own "Black Thing" and what they will use to fight against it. They can use any media that they wish.
VII. Culminating Activities:
1. Have a movie party with popcorn and drinks either watching the movie or the skits that were tape recorded.
2. Travel to another classroom and do a skit for them and show them the space museum that you have set up in the room.
3. Have students visit the NASA web sight and report on their findings. This would be good to tie in a unit over the solar system after completing this one.
VII. Evaluation
1. Rubric for the three paragraph story about tessering. This would be a rough draft sample:
Good ( 10 points ) Fair ( 5 points ) Poor ( 0 points )
-one advantage -one advantage -no advantage
-one disadvantage -no disadvantage -no disadvantage
-one sensation -one sensation -no sensation
-one danger -no danger -no danger
-explanation included -explanation included -no explanation
-three paragraphs -two paragraphs -few sentences
2. Grade art projects as good, if meet all criteria and poor ,if criteria was not meet.
3. Grade math worksheets, successful completion requires a grade of at least 80%.
4. Self Assessment Sheet. This could include:
- List two things that I did well on.
- List two things I could improve on.
- List something I would change.
- List the best part about the lesson.
- List any suggestions you may have.
5. Cooperative Group Checklist: Could include:
-works well with others
-is staying on task
-uses material properly
-participates in group activity
-accepts role assigned
-listens to classmates
-follows instructions
-helps set up/clean up
5 points=excellent 3 points=good 1=needs improvement
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